The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-14
THE FIRE RECORD.
The Pitt sburg Loss Now Estimated at Hal
q Mfllion-Origin of the Fire.

Mfllion-Origin OF the Fire.
PITTsBURG, Aug. Ii. The big fire last night
entirely under control at o'clock this
morning, but at 10 O'clock this morning the
gines were still playing on the ruins. Shortly
after half past 2 o'clock the flames got fresh
start in the Masonic Temple. and for time the
entire block was again in danger, but by almost
superhuman efforts the fremen Kept the flames
within the bounds Of the burnt district The build
ings entirely DESTROYED were the Ma sonic Tenn
ple the Hamilton block. Campbell & Dicks
carpet warehouse and number of tenement
houses Virgin alley. The upper floors Of
Schmidt e. Fridays magnificent nine-story
structure gutted and the balance OF the
building is water-soaked. The Dispatch and
Penny Press buildings were badly damaged by
water.
The latest investigations show that the fire
originated in the carpet store of Fl. Hoffman.
located in the cellar of the Masonic building and
underneath the dry goods store of Campbell g.
Dick It is said that small party of gentle
were sitting in the upholstering depart
ment of Holtzman's establishment when one of
their number lighted cigar and thouehtlessly
threw the match into a waste-paper basket The
contents of the basket were of an infiammable
character, and in a few seconds the entire room
was folaZe. EHOrIS were maze TO eAGuPulSn
the flames. but the light material burned SO
rapidly that the fire was soon beyond control.
The Masonic Hall was the oldest building on
Fifth avenue 1t was built about fifty years ago
by the Allegheny Engine Cnmpany. volunteer
fire company. They occupied the first floor and
rented the balance of the building. The hall
was occupied by Fox's Theater, and subsequently
as museum. The fourth floor had been used
by the Masonic fraternity for over forty years.
dad into Gr1n dana mn ante
blue room, the chapter room. and three ante
rooms. The former was furnished at an expense
of $1,000 room The cost sue IN e sne
of the ante rooms was stored the
paraphernalia, which was valued at $4,000
Thirty one lodges met in the hall, and all their
equipments were totally destroyed. Among the
articles priced highly by the Masons of this city
was the picture of Judge McCandess. one of the
greatest representatives of Masonry in this sec
ton. The walls of the blue room. also, were
adorned with portraits of all the past grand
masters of Pittsburg, which we're destroyed.
Many of these cannot be replaced. 4 number of
Masons were in the rooms guarding against In
truders until forced away by the flames.
The only casualty reported was an accident to
a man named John Keefe, Of Allegheny He
a building Virgin alley, assisting
the fremen, when he fell and fatally in
lured. careful estimate, just made, puts the
loss at less than $500. 900. The walls of the
Hamilton and Schmidt e. Friday buildings
found to be in good condition, and the loss will,
therefore be much smaller than the first esti-
mates. Inc insurance on Hamilton 8 IS $10U. UUU,
and the loss will be about S75. 900. Schmidt q
Friday lose about $4,000; the insurance on
their building and stock is $3.50, 900. Hoffman
places his loss at 100000. Campbell & Dick at
$175. 900. The damage to the Penny Press will
be about $4,000, and to the Dispatch probably
s., 900. Masonic Hall is totally destroyed. and
the loss will not be far from $75, 900. The $50
tenants of the Hamilton ana Schmidt & Friday
buildings lose in the aggregate 100000. The
total insurance was $500. 900. distributed fol-
lows Campbell q Dick-German American,
Hanover of Germ
Sun of England. 81. 500 each Continental of
New York. Sc. 500; Queen of London, Orient of
Hartford. Home of New York, Phoenix, Imperial
of London, Com mercial of London. City of Lon
don, Connecticut. So, 900 each; Liverpool. Lon
don e Globe. $40, 600; Htna of Hartford, Ma
tional of Hartford Western of Pittsburg. So 900
each Guardian of London, 81 500; Clinton, Mer-
chants of Providence. Union and Phoenix, $4,000
each total, $139 go.
Hamilton's-Roya1 of Liverpool. 800 900; Peo-
ple's of Pittsburg. German of Rochester, New
Hampshire, Norwich Union, London and Ian
cas- hire Boatmap's of Pittsburg, City of Pitts
burg Glens Falls, Citizens of New York, Phoe-
nix of Halifax, Fire Association of Philadelphia,
Liverpool, London and Globe. Girard of Phia-
delphia, $4,000 each: Western of Pittsburg
Philadelphia Armenia of Pittsburg, Citizens of
Pittsbure, So, 500 and So, 900. Total, 100000
Observation-Disclosures, Scottish Union, Brit
ish American, Clinton, s., 500 each; Commercial
Union, Imperial Lion. Peoples, New Hamp-
shire. Mechanics Of Philadelphia. $4,000 each;
total 1874, 800
Masonic DulolnR-HeopieS OF fietSourg, WeS-
tern of Pittsburg. Commercial Union, $4,000
each: Imperial, Scottish Union. So, 500 each
Fire Association, 81, 500; total $27, 500.
Penny Press-London and Lancashire Ham
burg. Bremen Lancashire, So. 500 each New
HAMPSHIRE Citizens of Cincinnati. Franklin
of Columbus. O.. $3.50; Spring Garden, $1,450
total. $l2 700.
Schmidt & Friday's-sloo, 900 on building, and
$15, 900 on stock; companies not yet obtained.
Valuable saw-Mul Burned.
NJ W